Generator propeller



E. J. WEIBLE GENERATOR PROPELLER June 9, 1936.

Filed April 12, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 1?. f W/QZ/ B wad? Allomey Jul 1e 9, 1936. WEHBLE 2,043,402

GENERATOR PROPELLER Filed'April 12, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Home}:

June 9,1936. 7 .E. J. WEl'BLE 2,043,402

I GENERATOR PROPELLER Filed April 12, 1935 s s eets-sheetslnvenlor A llomep Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in propellers and more particular- 13 to a propeller for use in conjunction with aircraft generators.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a generator propeller of such construction that it will automatically change its blade pitch as the speed thereof increases.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a generator propeller of simple construction and not susceptible to the development of ready defect. I

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of the propeller.

Figure 2 represents a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary sectional view through the hub portion of the propeller.

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary front elevational view showing the hub with the cover removed.

Figure 5 represents a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 represents an elevational view of one of the governor weights and gear assemblies.

Figure '7 represents a sectional view taken substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary side elevational view of one end of one of the propeller shafts.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts it can be seen that numeral 5 represents the hub plate which is rabbeted as at 6 to receive the end portion of the deep cover like structure 1 which encases the governor mechanism generally referred to as at 8. The propeller is of the type employing a pair of blades 9--9, each having a shank l provided with a hollow extension ll slotted as at I2. Each of these slotted hollow extensions H engages over a corresponding countershaft 13 of the said governor mechanism 8, which shaft i3 is journalled through bearings l4--l5 on the plate 5. Each shaft I3 has a quadrant gear I6 keyed thereto and the gears mesh in the manner shown clearly in Figure 2. Each gear [6 has an arm l'l extending outwardly therefrom and equipped at its outer end with a weight l8. A spring IQ of the coiled type connects the other end portion of the arm I! while additional coiled springs 20 extend from points adjacent the outer end of the arm I"! to suitable anchors 2| carried by opposite gears l keyed to the anchors 2| as in the form of a protuberance capable of being stopped by an outstanding stop member 22 on the hub 5 to limit the action of the governor mechanism.

The bearings l4l5 are in the form of ball bearing mounts 23-as shown in Figure 5 while thrust collars 24 are provided on the ends of the shaft l3--l3 at the said hub 5.

To maintain the propeller shank l0 connected to the corresponding shank I3 a split clamp 25 is employed and clamped around the slotted extension ll through the use of bolts 25 so as to compress this portion ll of the shank against the counter shank l3.

Obviously as the assembly shown in Figure 1 rotates and speed increases, the weights l8 separate and in doing so rotate the shaft l3|3 in opposite directions to the end that the pitch of the propeller blades will be changed.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A propeller of the class described comprising a drive shaft, a hub on said drive shaft, a pair of parallel rotatably mounted shafts on the hub and provided with meshing gears, each gear being provided with an outwardly extending arm having a weight at its free end thereof, the lower portion of each arm being provided with protuberances, stop means on said hub for cooperation with said protuberances for limiting the movement of said gears, extensible coiled springs each connected at one end to one of the arms adjacent its outer end, said springs being connected at their opposite end to the protuberances from which the complementary arm extends, and blades at the outer ends of each shaft.

EDDIE J. WEIBLE. 

